South Fulton County

Overturned dump truck blocks I-85 for hours

SOUTH FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — An overturned dump truck made for a messy evening commute Wednesday for south Fulton County drivers.

Interstate 85 southbound was closed for about two hours while crews worked to clean up the mess.

The dump truck dumped its load in one of the worst possible places -- I-85 near Senoia Road.

"It's been frustrating because I've been at work all day long," driver Keri Ward told Channel 2's Justin Wilfon.

Some drivers waited in traffic for a couple of hours while crews worked to clean up the big mess.

Ward said she nearly ran out of gas.

“This isn’t the gas station I normally go to, however because of the circumstances, I had to pull over to get some gas just so I can make it home,” she said.

Fairburn police told Wilfon the truck blew a tire near Exit 61, causing it to overturn and blocking off the southbound lanes.

Many drivers tried to escape the mess by taking Highway 29 through Union City and Fairburn, only to find heavy traffic there, too.


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This is the worst traffic I’ve ever seen on this street like that,” driver Annie Milner said. “It’s horrible.  I’ve been working all day and I’m hot, tired.”

Fairburn police tweeted out photos of crews working to clear the highway of the big pile of dirt the truck dumped out.

Just before 7 p.m. crews had finally cleared the road and traffic started flowing again.

Police told Wilfon the driver of the truck had minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Overturned Truck Shuts Down I-85S in South Fulton County

UPDATE: All lanes have reopened. ----------- BREAKING: An overturned dump truck has shut down all lanes of I-85 S at Senoia Road in south Fulton County. STORY: 2wsb.tv/2eOckoh

Posted by WSB-TV on Wednesday, July 26, 2017